New Discoveries in Reference: The 28th Annual Reference Research Forum

A panel of colleagues share the results and methodologies of their most recent unpublished work. These presentations were selected using a blind review process, and reflect RUSA’s commitment to stimulating excellence in reference and information services for all types of libraries.

“¡Qué discriminación!” Authentic Organizational Culture for Anti-Oppressive Bilingual Reference Praxis, Julie Marie Frye (IUPUI) & Maria Hasler-Barker, Ph.D. (Sam Houston State University)

While most libraries serving multicultural communities affirm social justice values, many remain rooted in historically oppressive foundations. We employ organizational culture theories to expand the growing body of LIS research about (anti)oppressive praxis. We examined bilingual reference desk activities at a public library in a US-Mexico border city. Focusing only on bilingual interactions, we used deductive analysis to understand organizational values and compared these with librarians’ discourse. Our preliminary analysis reveals three (in)consistencies between organizational culture(s) and reference services. We hope these findings, and the discussion at our session, will strengthen our collective commitment to authentic anti-oppressive praxis.

Access Issues in Collection Institutions: A Special Collection Library Case Study, Karina Sanchez (University of Texas Austin)

Special collection libraries can be intimidating research institutions, particularly for underrepresented users, and strict access policies push this narrative. The Huntington Library in California will be used as a case study. In this presentation, I will critique and analyze how special collection institutions' strict access policies and euro-centric physical spaces are not providing a safe research area for underrepresented researchers. To conclude, recommendations for the reference desk, wayfinding, and more will be provided, in hopes that special collections will become an equitable space. By changing the library, we are amplifying underrepresented voices, leading to diversification of libraries, research, and collections.

Sponsored by RUSA-RSS